Lower Weight Gain Rate Research Articles

The effect of an anabolic steroid, methenolone enanthate, on growth, body composition and skeletal muscle protein synthesis in the growing rat

The effect of Primobolan (methenolone enanthate; 10 mg kg −1 thrice-weekly) on total body nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and body-weight, muscle protein synthesis and food conversion efficiency was measured in Wistar rats during the period from weanling to maturity (22 to 64 days of age). Treated male rats exhibited a lower rate of weight gain, increased kidney weight and decreased testicular weight when compared with controls. No differences in total nitrogen, potassium or phosphorus were observed. Treated female rats had significantly increased body-weight, total body nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compared with female controls although, when expressed as a percentage of body weight, phosphorus content was higher in controls. Treated female rats had increased food conversion efficiency expressed relative to total body weight gain or total body nitrogen gain. Rates of synthesis of mixed skeletal muscle protein, measured at the conclusion of the study, indicated that treated females had a significantly increased rate of synthesis when compared to female controls. There was no significant difference between treated male rats and control animals.

Laser-clad Ni70Al20Cr7Hf3 alloys with extended solid solution of Hf: Part II. Oxidation behavior

Ni-Al-Cr-Hf coatings with an extended solid solution of Hf were fabricated by laser cladding a premixed powder with a Ni-Al-Cr-Hf ratio of 70∶20∶7∶3 onto a substrate of RENE 80. Isothermal oxidation tests in slowly flowing air reveal that the claddings have a lower weight-gain rate than the substrate itselt. Microchemistry and microstructures of the oxidized samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The improvement in oxidation resistance is believed to be at least partially due to the formation of large numbers of hafnium-rich oxide spikes penetrating the unoxidized sample.

Betydelsen av psykologiska faktorer för barn med låg tillväxthastighet

Palmérus, K (1988). The impact of psychological factors on infants with low rate of weight gain. Nordisk Psykologi, 40, 106–119. This study is concerned with the association of psychological factors and growth failure. The aim of the research was to learn how infants with growth failure, and their mothers, differ in their behaviours and experiences compared to a control group. 51 infants with low rate of weight gain, aged 4–18 months and 49 controls were included in the study. The results, based on observations and interviews, showed that the situation for infants with low rate of weight gain in comparison to controls were significantly different in variables dealing with mother-infant interaction (stranger behaviour, separation behaviour, signal behaviour, feeding behaviour), earlier experiences of the mother (pregnancy feelings and fantacy) and social support (lack of support from infant's father, grandparents, problems with neighbours and neighbourhood).

Immunologically Mediated Growth Depression in Chicks: Influence of Feed Intake, Corticosterone and Interleukin-1

The effects of an immune response on growth and feed efficiency in chicks and the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and corticosterone (Cort) as mediators of the response were investigated. Daily injections of either sheep red blood cells or the inflammatory agent Sephadex resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) lower rates of weight gain, feed intake and efficiency of feed utilization than controls fed ad libitum, indicating an immunologically mediated stress. Feeding control chicks the same amount of diet as that consumed by immunologically challenged chicks did not completely equalize rates of weight gain. Injections of a crude preparation of IL-1, but not Cort, resulted in weight gain, feed intake and efficiency of feed utilization that were similar to those of immunologically challenged chicks. The concentrations of IL-1 and Cort, measured by bioassay and radioimmunoassay, respectively, in serum from immunologically challenged chicks were significantly higher than in nonchallenged chicks. To determine the influence of IL-1 and Cort on protein accretion in skeletal muscles, the extensor digiti communus and ulnaris lateralis were incubated in the presence of these two hormones at concentrations similar to that seen in serum after an immunologic challenge. Cort did not affect the rate of protein degradation but resulted in rates of protein synthesis that were significantly lower than controls. IL-1 did not affect the rate of protein synthesis but resulted in rates of protein degradation that were about 24% greater than controls.

Effect of infection with lungworms (Dictyocaulus viviparus) on energy and nitrogen metabolism in growing calves.

1. Ten Friesian male calves of about 100 kg and 3 months old were reared similarly and were worm-free. From 13 weeks of age five calves received a dose of 640 infective larvae (L3) of lungworms (Dictyocaulus viviparus) twice weekly for 8 weeks to simulate continuous infection. Animals not infected were fed to the same level as the infected animals (about 1.2-1.3 kg concentrates and 1.4-1.5 kg good-quality hay/d). 2. Heat production was measured twice weekly during 48 h (days 2 and 3, and days 5 and 6) in each group of experimental animals. 3. Infection caused considerable damage to the lungs, increased respiration frequency and clearly produced antibody titres against D. viviparus. 4. Animals infected with lungworms had on average a lower rate of weight gain, reduced by 70 g/d per animal. Digestibility was not affected. Nitrogen retention was much lower in infected animals (12.0 v. 14.6 g/d per animal in controls). 5. Metabolizability of energy was slightly reduced in infected animals. Heat production as found in infected animals may be associated with an increased maintenance energy requirement of 30 kJ/kg live weight 0.75 per d or reduced partial efficiency of feed conversion above maintenance in animals infected with lungworms (58.5 v. 64.1% in the control animals). 6. It was concluded that the depression in rate of gain was related to reduced intake of feed and to decreased N retention.

Infants with low rate of weight gain. II. A study of environmental factors.

Eighty-one infants were investigated to evaluate the clinical significance of low rate of weight gain. An organic etiology was found in 28 infants. The remaining infants were analysed with special respect to their psychosocial environment. Growth was assessed by rate of weight gain. Thirty-four infants had subnormal rates. Comparisons were made with 18 infants with low but normal rates and a control group of 72 infants. Several psychosocial risk factors were overrepresented in infants with subnormal rate of weight gain such as unemployment, ill-health in fathers, dependence on social welfare etc. No significant differences were found in perinatal factors except for birth weight. The magnitude of the load of adverse factors within the family was measured as a score. A significant negative correlation was found between the score obtained and the rate of weight gain.

Infants with low rate of weight gain. I. A study of organic factors and growth patterns.

To evaluate the clinical significance of low rate of weight gain 81 infants wer investigated with a deviation of weight corresponding to a decrease of at least one S.D.-score of weight attained in the current Swedish growth chart. In 28 patients this decrease was of organic origin, notably intestinal disease. Three different growth variables were compared: attained weight (transformed to S.D.-score), change in S.D.-score of attained weight per time unit (= rate of change of deviation in S.D.-score/year) and rate of weight gain in kg/year (transformed to S.D.-score). Twenty-two of 28 infants with organic diseases had a subnormal rate of weight gain whereas only 12 attained subnormal weight for age. The use of rate of weight gain is the most sensitive growth variable and is far better than the use of attained weight as an indicator of ill-health. Change in S.D.-score of attained weight for screening purposes give good agreement with rate of weight gain, provided that age is taken into account.

Effect of zinc supplementation on the dietary intake, rate of weight gain, and energy cost of tissue deposition in children recovering from severe malnutrition

Children recovering from severe malnutrition on a milk based diet have low plasma zinc concentrations: children recovering on a soya based diet have much lower plasma zinc concentrations, lower rates of weight gain, and higher energy costs of tissue deposition. However, they do not demonstrate the clinical features of anorexia, diarrhea, and skin lesions usually associated with zinc deficiency. We therefore supplemented 16 children with zinc acetate on the basis that a therapeutic response to zinc constitutes the best evidence of a preexisting zinc deficiency. Fourteen of the 16 children had an immediate and definite increase in their rate of weight gain with zinc supplementation. This was associated with a decrease in the energy cost of tissue deposition, regrowth of the thymus, and activation of the sodium pump. We conclude that the children were indeed zinc deficient. We suggest that the anorexia of zinc deficiency is related to an inability to metabolize nitrogen in the zinc deficient state, and that our children did not show an appetitive response because of the relatively low protein content of the diets we used. Based on the premise that the abnormalities seen in our children may have been secondary to mild zinc deficiency, we suggest that limitation of lean tissue synthesis, with resultant obesity, and a propensity to infection are the major features of a mild zinc deficiency. Children undergoing a period of "catch up" weight gain or growth should have supplemental zinc, particularly if they have had diarrhea or if the use of a soya based formula is contemplated.

Ill-health in families of infants with low rate of weight gain.

The present work investigated ill-health in 52 families of infants admitted to hospital with low rate of weight gain. Ill-health is measured as annual days of sickness cash entitlement, which is registered for all citizens within the state compulsory insurance scheme, with no waiting period. In the 34 families with infants having a weight gain outside the -2 S.D. limit there was a clear overrepresentation of fathers with high annual number of days of sick leave. The chief reasons for sick leave were skeletomuscular diagnoses. Comparisons are made with 18 families with infants having low rate of weight gain but within the -2.S.D. limit and 72 control families. Mothers of infants with subnormal increments tend to have more health problems than the other groups, but the differences are small. This can be explained by the use of the parent's cash benefit which covered the mothers during 210 days of the observed period, and by the differences in income between mothers and fathers. It is concluded that ill-health is overrepresented in families with infants presenting subnormal weight gain.

Disturbances of digestive motility in horses associated with strongyle infection

Motility disturbances of the ileo-caeco-colic region resulting from natural and experimental strongyle infection were studied by electromyography in six ponies, before and after treatment. Compared with control animals regulary treated by mebendazole (10 mg/kg), naturally infected animals exhibited a low level of ileal motility and a reduction by 50% of the caeco-colic motor response to feeding. Complete disorganization of the motility patterns occured during the 48 h following the anthelmintic treatment. A marked decrease in motility and/or disorganization of the motility patterns accompanied by intermittent diarrhoea occurred 40–50 days after an experimental infection of the ponies with 70,000–300,000 small strongyle larvae. The results showed that strongyle infection resulted in changes in motility patterns associated with both the lower rate of weight gain and the digestive disturbances.

The development of behaviour the development of social behaviour in calves

Friesian heifer calves, separated from their mothers on the first or second day after birth and reared in groups of three, interacted with one another by sniffing, licking and nuzzling from an early age. Mounting and competitive interactions such as butting and pushing increased in frequency after fifteen weeks but were still much less frequent than licking and sniffing. Calves which had been spatially isolated for eight months were put together in a field with group-reared animals of the same age and showed just as much licking and sniffing as did the group-reared calves. Isolation-reared calves initiated fewer competitive encounters than did group-reared, and were more likely to retreat if attacked or approached. In a rank-order based upon the results of such encounters, group-reared calves were higher than isolation-reared calves both at eight months and in the same herd one year later. This rank-order was not correlated with body weight. Calves which increased or decreased in rank between eight and twenty months showed a correspondingly high or low rate of weight gain. Mean frequency of association in pairs made up of a group-reared and an isolation-reared calf was less than that in pairs of two group-reared or two isolation-reared calves. The most frequent associations were those between two calves from the same rearing group or two isolation-reared calves from adjacent pens. It is concluded that rearing in spatial isolation for eight months has considerable effects on social behaviour and that some of these effects may be detrimental to animal production, especially if animals reared in different ways are mixed and there is competition for food. THE EFFECTS OF PEN CONDITIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CALF BEHAVIOUR A. WATERHOUSE Department of Zoology, University of Reading, Reading (Gt. Britain) ABSTRACT Fifty Friesian heifer calves were reared in individu: .ne of the five followingFifty Friesian heifer calves were reared in individu: .ne of the five following

Effect of Leukocyte Interferon on Urinary Excretion of Cytomegalovirus by Infants

Five infants with symptomatic cytomegalovirus infections and high urinary titers of cytomegalovirus were treated with interferon in doses of 1.7-3.5 X 10(5) reference units/kg per day for seven to 14 days. Six courses of treatment were given. One of two infants treated with the largest dose of interferon had transient suppression of viruria; no suppression was noted during the other five courses of treatment. Adverse effects noted included a low rate of weight gain, a transient elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase and fever. Further trials are needed to determine whether larger doses of a more purified preparation of interferon will eliminate viruria in infants with sytomegalovirus infection, but careful assessment of toxicity will be necessary in this population of patients.

Toxicity studies with 5-bromo-3- sec-butyl-6-methyluracil

The herbicide, 5-bromo-3- sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) exhibited a low order of acute toxicity as evaluated by oral, dermal, and inhalation studies in mammals and by fish and wildlife studies. Bromacil fed to pregnant New Zealand white rabbits on days 8–16 of gestation at dietary levels of 0, 50, and 250 ppm was not teratogenic. In a three-generation six-litter reproduction study with rats, a dietary level of 250 ppm had no adverse effects upon reproduction and lactation performance; no pathologic changes were observed in weanling pups of the F 3b generation. Rats of both sexes were fed nutritionally complete diets containing 0, 50, 250, and 1250 ppm bromacil for 2 yr. Except for a lower rate of weight gain, a slightly decreased food intake and a slightly lower food efficiency among the female rats that received 1250 ppm bromacil, there was no nutritional, clinical, hematologic, urinary, or biochemical evidence of toxicity, nor any evidence of carcinogenicity; there was, however, a suggestion of slight hyperplasia in the thyroids of animals given the highest dietary level. Beagle dogs of both sexes, 1–2 yr of age, fed nutritionally complete diets containing 0, 50, 250, and 1250 ppm bromacil for 2 yr, showed no nutritional, clinical, hematological, urinary, biochemical, or pathologic evidence of toxicity.

INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIET AND WEIGHT GAIN IN RATS WITH PORTACAVAL SHUNTS.

Rate of weight gain and daily food intake, as well as fasting colon weight, liver weight, and arterial blood ammonia levels, were measured in rats with end-to-side portacaval anastomoses and their sham-operated, paired controls. The diets provided were regular chow and special, low-residue feed with increased amounts of protein, fat, or carbohydrate. The chow-fed, operated group gained weight at a significantly slower rate than their paired controls which was the only significant intragroup difference. The special-diet, operated groups gained significantly slower than the shams when the data from these groups were pooled, obliterating the dietary distinction. This singularity of the chow-fed group was accompanied by a very much heavier colon in both operated and control categories than that of animals receiving low-residue feed. Liver weights were lower and arterial ammonia levels higher in animals with shunts. The significance of the greater colon weight and lower rate of weight gain in fistulated animals receiving regular chow is discussed in the context of symbiotic relations between gastrointestinal flora and host.